Presses for thermosetting compositions



July 26, 1960 w. s. FRAULA EVAL 2,946,091

PRESSES FOR THERMOSETTING COMPOSITIONS Filed July 2. 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 War/y Kirg;

,ffomgs July 26, 1960 v w. s. FRAULA ETAI- 2,946,091

PRESSES FOR 'mERMosETTING coMPosITIoNs Filed July 2. 1954 a sheets-sheet 2 I n1) en fons' Will/'am 15'- Frau/a. v.JW/1y J# Kl'ncg/ July 26, 1960 w. s. FRAULA EI'AL PRESSES FOR THERMOSETTING COMPOSITIONS 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 2. 1954 In ven Zo r6 wif/121m cifra u/a jarr'g ,4f Aj July 26, 1960 w. s. FRAULA ETAL PREssEsFoR THERMosETTING coMPosI'rIoNs 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 2. 1954 July 26, 1960 w. s. FRAULA EFAL i 2,946,091

PRESSES FOR THERMOSETTING COMPOSITIONS Filed July 2. 1954 f8 sheetwheez s l 42. Il'l im? i .b21/anfora Y Wil/fam' 6. Fr'aa /a jvr/ff J. [f1/2g,

,vg-Horne July 26, 1960 w. s. FRAULA EVAL PRESSES FOR THERMOSETTING coMPosITIoNs 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 2. 1954 U21/enfans WIV/fam Q5'. Flflu/a. jfary 1% ffl/gg ygorfzeg July 26, 1960 w. s. FRAULA EI'AL 2,946,091

PRESSES FOR THERMOSETTING COMPOSITIONS Filed July 2. 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 H-Bo loven-tors wil/fam Frau/a, ifa/'rg if 172g ffl-orne y* July 26, 1960 w. s. FRAULA ETAL 2,946,091

PRESSES FOR THERMOSETTING COMPOSITIONS Filed July 2, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 WWII MWI F MM SHIFT Inf/nor' Wil/fam 5. Frau/a #Horn ew PRESSES FOR THERMOSETTING COMPOSITIONS William S. Fraula, Ridgewood, NJ., and Harry M. King, Dearborn., Mich., assignors to American Brake Shoe Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 2, 1954, Ser. No. 441,094

8 Claims. (Cl. 18-17) This invention relates to a press of the kind adapted to cure thermosetting compositions by heat and pressure.

Included in the class of compositions which require o thermal treatment in order to be reacted to an advanced stage, certain kinds require in addition the simultaneous application of pressure. Thus, a composition including an incompletely reacted resin such as a phenol-formaldehyde type resin normally must' be subjected to a cure under heat and pressure. An example of such is composition brake lining material compounded of a filler in the form of asbestos tibers or the like and a thermosetting resin ofthe foregoing type serving as a bond. Usually, the incompletely reacted brake lining composition is first produced as sa pre-form by a rolling operation so that it is subsequently necessary to subject these brake lining pre-forms toV a heat and pressure operation to advance the resinous bonding material to a final stage of growth. ,o

An object of the present invention is 'to enable thermosetting compositions of the foregoing kind to be cured in apress arranged to act upon an expandable and contractable die affording a plurality of the die cavities wherein the incompletely reacted thermosetting compo sition may be placed and subjected therein to die clamping `forces applied in one direction and die compressive forces applied in another direction.

The die included in the press of the present invention is primarily adapted to be loaded with individuall brake lining pre-forms, and therefore this die is provided with a plurality of arcuate shaped cavities` that are tobe compressed during the curing process. A further object of the present invention is to enable thisl die to be readily unloaded at the end of the curing cycle, and such unloading is to be carried out automatically in such a way that the cured linings are dumped all at once from thev die to a receiving station. More specifically in this connection, it is an object of the present invention to allow the die to expand at the end of the curing cycle, to condition the press' for ejecting the die when it is thus expanded, and to then pass the die on to an unloading table which is .arranged to travel forwardly with the die thereby opening an unloading cavity through which the cured linings Adrop from the die when this cavity is fully disclosed.

When curing thermosetting compositions in a closed die, it is usually necessary to open the die on occasions during the curing cycle to enable gases formed during the reaction to be relieved. Such is known to the art as bumping the press, and a further object of the present invention is to include in the control circuit for the press a means for automatically bumping the press at predetermined intervals during the curing cycle. As was noted above, the die included in the press of the present invention is of an expandable and contractable nature, and during the course of curing forces as esotablished by uid under pressure are applied against the die in one direction to clamp the die between a pair of platens, and forces are applied in another direction to contract the die. The latter forces are of a critical nature in that these forces account primarily for establishing the pressure in the individual die cavities necessary to complete the Vcure of the ther-mosetting composition. .'It therefore becomes important to assure that these compressive forces are not mitigated by shrinkage of the composition being cured in the die cavities or by line leakage in the fluid system, and a further object of the present invention is to enable Vthis to be accomplished. Other and further objects of the present invention wil be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and" what we now consider to be the best mode in which we Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the press looking in av l different direction;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the press, ycertain parts being broken away, and the extension of the front of the press being removed; t

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of thepress, with certain parts beinglbroken away;

, Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the press, with certain parts being broken away; Fig. 6 is a detail view, partly schematic in nature,

illustrating the unloading feature embodied in the press; Fig. 7 is a plan view, broken away, showing thedie of the press expanded;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View through the die carriage' Thus, the press ris to be furnished with so-called pre.

forms or green linings that are to be arranged in a die 20, Fig. 9, which comprises a plurality of arcuately shaped die cavitiesV 21. The die 2@ is of an-expandable and contractable nature as will be described presently and includes a plurality of individual die elements 2,5 which are tobe disposed horizontally as a set inthe press. Each such die element is in the form of an arcuately shaped block Vhaving vertically disposed arcuate faces so that thev die. cavities 2l afforded between successive ones of such elements conform generally tothe arcuate natureV of the brake linings as BLin the pre-V formed state. At .either end of the die elements Y25 is an integral ear 25A and 25B each of, which isbored to permit the die elements to bea-assembled as a set on a pair of corresponding guide pins 23A vand 28B of a relatively long nature. At one end, the dieZll includes a reaction block 30 in which the heads of the pins 28A and `28Bare positioned and at the opposite end the die k20 includes Va pressure block 31 having ears 31A and Patented July 26, 1960 Fig. ll is a schematic representation of the electrical` 31B at either end formed with* openings thereinv through Between successive ears- 25A and 25B of: theres'pee tive die elements; expansion springs 26S are'rnotintedg on tnepins 213A and 28B so ns fn narnia-ny expand die as shown: in` Fig. 7 to enable l'ln'cured brake' pre'-4 forins to be readily disposed therein. Sditable nuts are mounted-on the ends of pins 28A and'ZSBy to seat within the ears 31A and 31B of the' presstiie' blo'ck 30 to' limit tlew'die expansion action of the springs' 20s. i

The sides of the die elements which faceV the direcf tion of the reaction block 30 are formed at eith'erlend with vertically extending" projections as; 25C 'and 25D,V a'n'd during` the course of disposing' tliebiake lining'v pre"-l fo'tnis in the die cavities 21, the opposite ends: of these' prefs-nnss-Y abut the respective projections' 2SC and 25D. After theV die 20 has been loaded this manner, compressive forces applied to' the' pressure block' 31`c6mpact` the die elements against the action of the' springs 20S, and under thisy circumstance", as shown in Fig'; 9, tliepr`o jec'tions` 25C and 25D at eitherend of the die" eleinent's' close' on the ends of the die cavities 21, and the arcuately' shaped faces of the brake lining preforrns arecornp'acted between adjacent faces of successive die eleinent's. The way in which the die 20 is to be disposed in' the' press' of the present' invention and subjected to' pressure on' all sides during the curing operation will be' described pres'- ently.

As shown in Fig. l, the die 20 in accordnee witlitle" present invention is' to be retracted back in' to the'p'ress between a vertically movable platen 33' disposed above the die and a fixed lower platen 34? on which' the die 20' is' positioned, and during the course o f initiating operation of the press the upper platen 3'3 is'v c'l'o'sed vertically' on the' upper face of the die 20' to hold tle die with' a predetermined amount of press'r'e' against the lower' platen 34. When the upper platen is' closed o tl'ie die inthis manner, the die is clamped between the two plate'us thus assuring that the side edges of the b'r'ak'e lining preforms disposed in the die cavities' be subjected to pressure during the course of cnng;

Above the upper platen 33 is a relatively heavy horizontally disposed bedpla'te`35 which is supported at one side by a relatively heavy vertically disposed blockI 37, bolts as 38 being afforded to seciethe bed 35 rigidly to these supporting blocks'. 4 At `the side ofu the press opposite the block' 37 the bed plate 35 is supported by another relatively heavy block 39, Fig'. 5. These two blocks 37 and 39` are in turn' disposed above a bench 41, Fig.v 5,V which includes legs as 42 in the form of angle irons.1 These legs" of the bench are reinforced by gusset plates 43 so that a relatively rigid bench is airded for the press.

The t'op of the bench 4 1 isl al'orded by channel beams 44', and restingV on these is a lower bed plate 45. Bolts as' 46 at either side of bed 45 ar'e passedvertically therethrough into tapped openings in the bases of the respect-ive side blocks' 37 and 39, and from the foregoing it will be seentli'at the two bed plates 35 and 45 as interconnected by the blocks 37 and 39 afford a rigid structure for absorbig' the forces engendered during operation of the press.

A In accordance with the present invention, a means is 'orded for' advancing the upper platen to close on the lower platen, and this means' is in the forni of a pair of vertically ninvable rams so' and s1, Fig. 3. Tnns, these rams extend through cernes-pending openings provided' therefor' in the' upper' bed 35 an'd are operated from a pair of corresponding hydraulic cylinders 50A and SIA respectif/ely. These two cylinders are rnnnred orres'p'ondng cages' 54a11d 55 which are rigidly' secured to ine fop nf the upper bed by neus as shawn in Fig'. s, and the arrangement is such that nnid nn'd'er pressure is to be supplied to the; tops of these cylinders to drive rams 50 and 51 downwardly through the bed 35. As will be described in detail below, the lower ends of the cylinders 50A and 51A are connected to a drain line during such advancing movement of the rams associated therewith.

The rams 50 and 51 aref secured to a bolster block 58, and bolts as 59 passed through` the bolster block are tnr'eadediynmnnted in l:orres'pnndingV tapped openings ae forded in the'top' of the upper platen 33 to couple the upper' platen to the bolster.

To enable the upper platento" heat the composition to be cured when the upper platen is closed on die 20, electrical resistance elements' of the usual kind (not shown) are arranged in th'ef upper platen. Panels as 60, Fig. l, disposed at the front edge of the upper bed 35 have indicating and control instruments mounted thereon whereby the temperature of the upper platen may be regulated and observed during' the curing cycle; These resistance elements are exposed in the top side of the upper platen 36 and in' this condition are covered by an insulating plate 65. Arranged between the bolsterA 58 and the sheet of insulation 65 is a back-up plate 66.

'The lower' platen 34 is supported on the lower bed 47, and suitable bolts' s 68 are' extended up through the Vtop of the bench and' through the bed 47 to tapped openings in the lower platen. A spacervv plate 70 is disposed on the top nf the lower ned' 47, and between the spacer p1ate '70 and the upper platen 34 are shim plates as 71 which' may be selected a's to number or thickness to position' the lower platen 34 accurately in a xedr'elation relative to th'ecenter line of a ra`m- 80, Fig. 3. The two platens are faced with respective wear plates 74 and 75, and it' is these w'ear plates which directly engage the opposite top and bottom faces or the die 2'0 when the latter is positioned between the platens of the press. i

As was noted above, the die 20 is of an expandable and contractable nature" which enables the die cavities 21 therein to be readily loaded and unloaded. When initially disposed between the plat/ens 33 and 34 prior to closing the press, the die elements 25 arie normally expanded by' theV springs 20S, and to enable the die cavities 21 to be contracted for curing the composition therein under pressure,F a ram is arranged at the side of the press as shownin Fig. lY to apply pressure to the pressure block 31- included inthe die in a direction normal to the clos ing or advancing. directionvof the one platen on the other. In' this connection,Y a heatingplate 8 3 is fastened to the inside face of plate 37 as shown in Fig-3, and this plate is adapted to`be engaged by the reaction-block 30 included in the die 20 when the die 29 is fully retracted beneath the platens 33 and 34.l

A- means is aiforded to advance and retract ram 89 relative to thedie 20,' and in the' present instance such means is in the for-mof a cylinder 86 adapted to be furnished with fluid under' pressure. The cylinder 8f' is mounted in a cage 87 which is disposed at right angles to the block 39 onthe side ofthe press, and suitable bolts as'88f are-threadedl-y mounted tapped openings afforded therefor in the block 39to secure the 89 ci the cylinder cage' S7 to' the side of the press. Ram S0 is centered in? an opening 92 formed inthe block 39 and is normally retracted therein as shown in Fig. 3. The arrangement for driving the rams 5d, S1 and 39 is such that after the die .'39 has been positioned between the platens of the pressthe upper platen 33 is first quietly closedonY the lower platen 34v to clamp the die 20 therebetween.` Under this' condition. the springs 20S in the die 20V are still effective' to hold the die cavities 25 expanded, wlieetipon uid under pressure supplied to cylinder S6 is then effective to drive ram S0 in an advancing' direction against the pressure block gli included in the die Z'. This seqtience of operation is desired in order that rain S0 compressing thedie will not cause the uncnred composition in the die cavities 25 to extrude thatv the die and the platens of the press are effectively lubricated as by graphite to enable the die to be compressed while clamped between the platens as aforesaid. Advancing and retracting movements of the rams 50, 51 and 80 is ,controlled through a 4-way valve, H-S, Fig. 10, the operation of which will be described in detail below. This valve has two positions, a press open position and a press close position, and the valve is shifted between these positions by a pair of corresponding solenoids rE-17-2 and E-31, Fig. ll. The 4-way valve H-S is rst conditioned for operation by a series of switches that will be described below, such that once the die 20 containing the composition to be cured has been located between the platens, these switches are actuated `to enable valve H-S to shift to the press close position whereupon lluid under pressure is supplied to the tops of cylinders A and 51A and to the outer end of cylinder 86 disposed away from the block 39. .The arrangement of the system for supplying operating liuid to the cylinders 50A, 51A and 86 is such that at the same time the opposite ends of these cylinders are connected to drain lines which clear the cylinders of fluid in front of the advancing rams. This condition is maintained until the desired curing period has been terminated which may be at the end of the entire curing cycle or during intermediate periods in the curing cycle wherein the press is to be bumped At the termination of these periods when i-t is desired to 'open the press by retracting rams 50, 51 and 80 away from the die 20, this may oe accomplished automatically by means to be described below or as a manual operation through a switch .SW-4, Fig. l-l. The nature of the control circuit in this regard will be described below, but

it may here be pointed out that valve H-S is set by solenoid E-31 in the press open position. When thus set, valve H-S is effective to furnish huid under pressure to the bottoms of cylinders 50A and 51A and to the inner end of cylinder 86 while at the same time connecting the opposite ends of these cylinders to drain lines, thus enabling the rams to be driven in a retracting direction to relieve die 20.

For retracting and ejecting the die 20 into and from the platen cavity, a carriage y100, Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 is afforded. This carriage includes a pair of spaced racks and 106 which lare arranged as to be forced either in die advancing or die retracting direction. Connected across the front of the racks 105 and 106 is an arm 103, and it is this arm which affords a connection for `the rear of the die 20 to the carriage 100. Thus, a pair of slots and 111 :are formed in the face of the arm 1%. A pair of die elements as 25E and ZSF, Fig. 7, are selected for connection to the carriage, and adapters as 116 are attached as by bolts to the ears 25A of die elements 25E and ZSF. These adapters include reduced Shanks having enlarged heads as 115A at the ends thereof which y f are passed through 4the slots 110 and 111 afforded in the carriage arm 108. U-shaped washers (not shown) are aiorded on the shank 115 between the heads 115A thereof and the carriage arm 103, and in this way, the carriage 100'and the die 20 are secured together. The way in which the carriage is to be shifted back and forth for die ejecting and die yretraeting operation will now be described.

A cylinder 120, Figs. 1 and 5, is supported vertically at the back of the press. .This cylinder is suspended from a bracket 123, and the bracket 123 in turn is mounted on a vertically disposed mounting plate k124 connected to the rear of the bed plate 35 as by bolts 125. Operating in the cylinder is a piston 130, and this piston carried a rack 131 which is adapted to impart driving movement to the carriage 100 in either direction.

Normally, piston is dow-n in the cylinder 120, and

when iluid under pressure is furnished to the lower end' of cylinder 120 piston 130 and the rack131 carried thereby are driven upwardly. For controlling the action of piston l130 in this manner, a plate 135 mounted on theA bed plate 35 at the front of the press, as shown in Fig. 2', supports a pair of valves H-70 and H-71, Fig. 10. Valve H-70 is associated with the system for furnishing iluid to cylinder 120 and is controlled by a corresponding one of a pair of valve handles 136 and 137, so that by accordingly shifting valve H-70 in this manner uid is furnished to the bottom of cylinder 120 and at the same time, valve H-'70 Vis effective to connect the top of cylinder 120 to a drain line to enable ram 130 to be driven upwardly. 5 Disposed in a bearing mount 140 at the back of the press is a pinion :142 that is meshed with rack 131. This pinion is carried on a shaft 145 extending across the back of the press from one side to the other as can be seen in Fig. 4, and at the side of the press opposite the bearing mount shaft 145 is supported in another bearing mount 146. Arranged. on shaft intermediate pinion 131y and the bearing mount 146 are a pair of pinions 150 and 151. Pinions and 151 are meshed with racks 105 and `106 respectively as can be seen in Figs. 4 and 6, and accordingly as piston 130 is advanced upwardly in cylinder 120 as described above, pinions 142, 150 and 151 are rotated clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2, driving racks 105 and 106 in a forward or die ejecting direction. On the other hand, when valve H470 is reversed, these pinionsV are rotated in the opposite direction which effects retraction` of the die carrier back between the platens.

, To support and guide racks 105 and 106, a set of spaced apartguide rails 155'and 156 are arranged in the bearing mounts 140 and 146 respectively,and asV shown in Fig. 8 the racks 105 and .106 are each formed ateither side Withslots as 105A and 106A which are adapted to slide alongthe guide rails and 156. Y f At the back of the pressin alignment with an arm t projecting rearwardly from the die carriage 100 is a switch SVV-1 supported in an outboard relation by a bracket 162. This'switch is so positioned that when the carriage 100 is operated as described above to fully retract the die 20 -to an operative position. beneath the upper platen, arm 160 holds switch SW-1 closed. This condition must .be attained before the press can be closed, and the nature of this condition will be 'described below in connection with the control circuit of the press.

Under and in, accordanceV with the present invention a means is afforded to enable the cured composition in the die cavities 2.1 to be unloaded and dumped at the end of the curingv'cycle without need for extracting the cured l compositions manually one by one from the dieI cavity. In the present instance, this unloading ,feature -is` attained by ejecting the die 20 from the press on to a table which opens to permit the cured compositions in the die to drop through an Yunloading cavity to a receiving station.

l Thus, an extension 164, Fig.,4, is afforded for the lower platen 34'and -normally abutting the forward edge of this extension is a'horizontally disposed table 165 thev top `of Twhich is in the plane of the top of the platen 34 and the extension- 164 thereof. 'y This table is arranged to advance in a' forward direction vas the die 20 is ejected from the Lrs press by cylinder 126, andthe arrangement is such that "this'co-action occurs when the die 20 reaches a predeter- Y mined position during its forward advancingmovement from between the platens.v In the present instance, this end is attained bysa `sensing element which is actuated just as the die being ejected from the press passes on to the rrearmarginaledge portion of table 165 abutting the platen extension 164, and means are thereby conditionedV at this. time to'enable the table 165 and die 20 to travel forwardly together. As this occurs, a cavity ofincreasing `dimension opens between the rear edge of the table 165 and the forward edge of the platen extension 164. This cavity, 170, is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 in its-expanded condition, the die. 20 bridging the cavity 170 to enable the cured, compositions as the brake linings BL to drop from the expanded Vdie tovan unloading station alforded l m accenni 7 by a stationary table 175, Figs; 1 and 2 disposed beneath the unloading cavity. J

To support table 165 for movement of th1s kind, an extension is afforded at the front of the press by attaching a pair of channel beams as 176 and 177 in a forward outboard relation to the bench 41. The receiving table 175 below table 165 is supported on the anges f the channel beams 176 and 177, and at the forward ends of these beams a pair of vertical posts 180 and 181r are arranged. Anchored at either end to the posts 180 and 181 is a horizontally disposed angle beam 185, and this angle beam serves tov support a pair of arms 190 and 191 along which the table 165 is adapted to travel', these arms in turn being anchored to the lower platen extension 164.

To guide table 165 during the course of its forwardly advancing movement, arm 191 is milled to afford a rail 192 on which the corresponding side marginal portion of the table 165 is disposed to travel, as shown in- Fig. 4. The opposite side of the table 165 travels along the top of arm 190, as can be seen in Figs. l and 4, and a guide key (not shown)- is afforded at the underside of table 165 in. position to travel along the inner side of arm 190 to prevent lateral displacement of the table 165.

Anchored in spaced relation at the underside of the table 165 are a pair of racks 197 and 198, Fig. 6. These racks are meshed with a pair of corresponding pinions 201 and 202 which when rota-ted counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 6 force racks 197 and 198 and table 165 in a forward advancing direction. The pinions 201 and 202 are fixed to a drive shaft 205 afforded therefore, and on one end this drive shaft is rotatably supported in a bearing lug 206 depending from arm 191. At the opposite end portion, shaft 205 extends through a bushing in arm 190 and is rotatably supported in a bearing 208 attached `to arm 190. To drive shaft 205, a rack. 210 is meshed with a correspending pinion 211 mounted on the portion of'shaft 205 which projects from the bearing mount 208. A housing 217 enclosespinion' 211 and includes a bushing for the end of shaft 205.

Rack210 is adapted to be driven by a piston 2'15, Fig. 4 associated with a cylinder 216 disposed horizontally at the side of the press. The rear end of cylinder 216 is supported by a bracket 218 at the back of the press, and

the forward end of rack 210 is adapted to ride in the pinion housing 217, being engaged therein by rollers as 220 serving to hold the rack 210 in meshed relation with pinionY 211.

The piston 215 for driving the rack 210 is adapted to be operated in either direction by fluid under pressure in cylinder 216, and the flow of il'uid under pressure to cylinder 216 isregulated by a corresponding oneof the handles I3`6Hand 137 associated with the valve plate 135. Thus a valve H'7`1 is disposed on the valve -plate 135, and when the rack 210 is to be driven forwardly, this valve is opened to admit fluid under pressure to the rear of cylinder 216, and at the same time the setting of valve H-71 in this manner connects the forward end of cylinder 216 to a drain line Iii-88, Fig. l0, conditioning the piston 215 to advance. Forward advancing movement of the rack 210 drives pinions 211, 201 and 202 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 carrying racks 197 and 198 and the table 165 associated therewith forw'rdly along the arms 190 and 191.

`As noted above, movement of table 165 in a forward direction is commenced when the die being ejected from the press is sensed as having passed on to table 165. This position is marked by a trip 225 which when tripped closes a switch SW-6 attached to table 165 by a bracket 226, and the arrangement is such that this' trip is disposed in the pathof the die being ejected from the press. Accordingly, as the die 20 advances in a. forward direction along the lower platen, switch SW-6 is closed by die zo engaging trip 225, and when this occurs SVV-6 is held closed. When the limit of upward movesuiciently to re close switch SIW-6.

ment of the piston has been reached, die 20 ceases forward movement and as table pulls away from the leading end of the die, switch SW6 opens stopping the table. The adapters 116 are so selected that when this condition is attained the unloading cavity 170, Fig. 6, is fully disclosed and bridged by the ears of the dieelements enabling the cured compositions to drop out of the expanded die cavities on to the receiving table 175.`

As shown in Fig. 4 a pair of relatively narrow guides 250 and 231 are arranged in fixed position at the side edge of the lower platen and at the side edge of table 165 respectively. These guides are adapted -to fit into a corresponding guide slot formed in the bottom side of the reaction block 30 included in the die 20, enabling the die 20 to be guided by rail 230 accurately on to rail 231 on table 165 during die ejection. Thus, just as the forward ears 25B of the die elements pass on to table 165, switch SW-6 is closed so that as the die 20 and table 165 advance forwardly together the leading end of the die is supported by the rear marginal portion of table 165. lt will be appreciated in this connection that in the event table 165 pulls away from the leading end of the die while opening the unloading cavity, switch SVV-6 will open halting table 165 until the die advances When the unloading cavity 170 has been fully disclosed as shown in Fig. 6, the rear ears 25A of thedie elements, on the other hand, are supported on the forward marginal portion of the platen extension 164.

To load the die 20 with a new set of preforms, it is rst necessary to close the unloading cavity as shown in Fig. 6, and this is accomplished by shifting valve H-71 in a reverse direction to furnish uid under pressure to the front of cylinder 216. At the same time, as will be described below, the back of cylinder 216 is drained. Accordingly. piston 215 is operated to retract rack 210 reversing table 165 to close the unloading cavity. The die is then reloaded, and valve H-70 is reversed to furnish fluid under pressure to the top of cylinder 120 while connecting the bottom of this cylinder to a drain line. Rack 131 is driven downwardly and its stroke is regulated to retract die 20 beneath thc platens to a position where the center line thereof is aligned with ram Y 80 and arm 160 on the die carriage closes switch SWA.

HYDRAULIC OPERATION OF THE PRESS The press described above is adapted to be operated hydraulically by furnishing iluid under pressure to the several cylinders. Two sources of Huid under pressure are afforded. Thus, the hydraulic system includcsa line H-1, Fig. l0, connected to a source of fluid under high pressure, which for example may be at 150G p.s.i., and another line H-2 which is connected to a source of uid under low pressure, which for example may be at 350 p.s.i. A third line H-S is arranged to connect the cylinders to a drain trink (not shown) accordingly as the rams and pistons associated with these cylinders are to be reversed in a manner to be described more specifically below. Thus in those instances where the resnous composition disposed in the die cavities can be cured with low pressure, fluid under low pressure in line H-2 will be resorted to exclusively, but where the nature of the resin is such as to require high pressure to complete the cure high pressure iluid in line H-1 is to be resorted to.

For advancing or retracting the rams associated with cylinders 50A, 50B and 36, a 4-way valve H-S of a iknofwn kind adapted to be set either ina press open position or a press close position is associated with the low pressure lines. Normally, this valve is set in the press open position, and the setting of this valve in either position is controlled by a corresponding solenoid E-172 or E-31,`Fig. 1l, which will be described below in connection with the electrical circuit for controlling operation of the press.

Line H-Z connected to the source of low pressure iluid leads to a T-itting H-7, A line H-8 leads from the T-iitting HJ] into the L'i-way valve H-S, and arranged in this line is a needle-type valve H-'l which may be set to a predetermined position to control the rate of ow of iuid fro-rn the low pressure source to the 4-way valve H-S. When the l-way valve is set in the press close position by solenoid E--Z, uid under low pressure is directed to cylinders 50A, lA and 86 for advancing the rams associated therewith toward the die 20 positioned between the platens of the press, and to enable this to be 'accomplished a T-tting H42 is connected to the v4-way valve H-S. Leading from this T-'tting are -a pair of low pressure lines H-M and H415, and when valve H-S is in the aforementioned press close position this valve is eliective to couple lines H-llli and H-iS to the low pressure line H-S. Also at this time, other lines leading from cylinders 50A, 51A and 86 in an arrangement which will be described below are connected by valve H-S to a drain line )Ei-16. Thus, line H-l leads from valve H-S to the tank line'H-, and such is attained in the present instance by connecting lines H-S` and H-ld to respective arms of a T-iitting H-i. A needletype valve H- is adorded as a shut-off for lineH-S.

Line Iii-i4 is associated with cylinders 50A and 51A and is connected to a pilot check valve H-ZZ. check valve is normally down to admit iluid under low pressure in line H44 to a T-fitting H-23, and from this T-tting to another T-iitting'H-Zl. Lines H-ZS and H-25 are connected to respective arms on the .T-tting H-Z-l, and these lines lead in to the topsV of cylinders SiA and 51A respectively to admit fluid under low pressure thereto. Therefore, when the 4-way valve H-S has been set in the press close position, iluid under low pressure in lines H-ZS and .PI-26 is supplied thereto to advance rams l? and 5l simultaneously to close the upper platen 33 and the lower platen 34.

Line I-i-lS is associated with cylinder S6. This line Y is led through a T-iitting H-ZS and from this T-ttng through a one-Way normally open solenoid controlled valve H-Btl. From valve lil-30, line H-iS is led through a T-itting H-31 and a normally down pilot check valve H-32 to a T-titting lil-34. Connected to one ann of the T-iitting H-Si is a line H-36 leading to the outer end of cylinder S6, so that the ram 3i? associated therewith may be driven inwardly against die 20 positioned between the platens of the press by iluid under low pressure inline H45 when the 4-way valve H-S is set in the press `close position, provided of course that valve H-30 is open.

t will be appreciated from the foregoing that valve H-S enables ramsdtl, 51 and Sil to be actuated inan ladvancing direction to clamp the die 20 with vertically applied pressure between the Vplatens 33 and34 and to compress the die cavities 25 with horizontal pressure as applied by ram di).

A pressure sensitive switch PS-S is arr-angedlin the control circuit for valve H-3tl, in a way to be described below in connection with the control, of the press, but it may here be pointed out that switch PS5 isset to close valve H-SO when this switch senses that the desired upper limit of low pressure for advancing ram, 80

as the pressure exerted `by ram tl'is ofrczitical nature ,from thewcuringrstandpoint accordingly switch PS-B This is set to close valve H-30 when this attained. Y t

To enable switch PS-3 to sense the pressure of uid being furnished to cylinder by way of 1ine`H-15, a line H-40 is connected to the other ann of the T-tting H-3I at one end and at the opposite end is connected to a T-iitting H41. A line H-42 leading to the pressure switch PS-3 is also connected to the T-fitting AH-42l,'and on the third arm of this iitting a check valve H-45 is arranged to yafford a by-pass v'through a line H-46 around valve H-30 and -back to T-tting H-ZS on the opposite Side of valve H-30. The nature of this by-pass will be pressure has been described below in connection with opening of the press.

The foregoing connections enable cylinders SiA, 51A and 86 in the press to hold the rams associated therewith closed against die 20 exclusively with low pressure, and to retract these rams away from the die the 4-way valve H-S is reversedV to the press open position. Under this circumstance, low pressure fluid initially resorted to to clamp and compress the die is drained from the cylinders and at the same time uid under low pressure is supplied to the cylinders for retracting the rams, enabling the die to expand and be ejected from between the platens to the unloading station. To enable this to be accomplished, the pilot check valves H-ZZ and H-32 are lifted and uid under low pressure is directed to the lower ends of cylinders 50A and 51A `and to the inner end of cylinder 86. At the same time, the opposite ends of these cylinders are drained through lines H-3 and H-16 to thevtank. Thus, when the 4-way valve H-S is setin the press ,open position rby the corresponding solenoid E-31, Fig. l0, a line H-Sd leading `from valve H-S- to thel pilot check valve H-ZZ is furnished with iluid under Y. low pressure, another line H-Sl leading from valve H- -to the pilot check valve H-3Z is simultaneously `furnished with fluid under low pressure, and lines H44 and H-S are coupled lwith line H-16 leading .to the tank line H-S. The pilot` check valves H-ZZ and H-SZ each include a 20:1 operating ratio enabling these valves to be lifted against the iluid in lines I-I-14 and Irl-15, so that as these pilot check valves are lifted by .iiuid under low pressure H-SS leading'from valve H-S is arranged to be coupledV ,through this valve to the low pressure line H-3 Line H-55is connected to the inner end of cylinder 85.` A

T-titting H-66 is aiorded in line H-SS, and a line H-SS is connected between this T-tting and another T-fittiulg H-59 from which lines H-t-and H-l. lead yto the bottom of .cylinders 56A andtSlA respectively. VAc-I cordingly, since/the pilot check .valves H-Z?. and H-3Z have bothgbeen lifted as described above, low pressure iluid in lines H-55, H-SS, H-Gt) and H61 will effect retraction of the corresponding rams relieving the press Aand enabling the dies to lbe ejected, This condition will vprevail until the press is `to-:be closed -once more.

'. For ejection and unloading of the dies, a pair of Valves H-70 and H-7f1 are arranged on the valve plate 135 for .manual operation by the corresponding handles that were described. Thus, valve H-70 is associated with die ejecting cylinder which is adapted to advance die 20 out from between the platens. Both valves H-70tand H-'71 are associated with the source of low pressure fluid inasmuch as these cylinders merely performV the die unloadv,ing operation described above. Thus, aline H-73 isA connected to T-iitting H-7 inthe low pressure line H2,

and line H-73y leads to valve H-70. :From valve H-7.0 Y, a line H-74 leads to the lower endvof cylinderlzt), 'and agace-,osi

this line is adapted to be coupled to line H-73 to elevate the piston in cylinder I120 in a manner to be described presently. Arranged in line H43 is a needle-type valve H-75 adapted to regulate the rate of fluid passing through line H-73 to valve H-7il. A T-tting H-76 is also afforded in line H-73, and connected to this T-tting is a line H-77 leading to valve H-71. Leading from valve H-7l is a line H78 which connects to the rear end of cylinder 216 which operates the unloading table 165. Line H-7S is adapted to be coupled to line H-77 in a way to. be

described presently. A needle-type valve H-79 is ar ranged in line H-77 to regulate the rate of fluid passing from line H-77 in to valve H-71.

To actuate the piston 130 of cylinder 120 in a die ejecting direction, valve H-70 is shifted by accordingly operating the corresponding handle for this va1ve,'cou pling lines H-73 and H-74. At the same time the top of cylinder 130 is drained to permit the piston to rise therein in the following manner.

A line H-SO leads from the upper end of cylinder l120 to valve H40. A line H-81 associated with line H-'80 for draining the top of cylinder 120 is connected at one end to valve H-70 and at the other end to a T-litting H-Sz which is connected to T-litting H-IS in line H-3. When lines H-73 and H-74 are coupled as described above, lines H-Stl and H-81 are coupled at the same time to drain the top of cylinder 120 to the tank, and this enables piston 130 to be raised by duid under low pressure passed thereto `from line H-74. Accordingly, the dies are ejected from between the platens by racks 105 and 106 in the die carriage y100.

It will be recalled from the description set forth above regarding the mechanical details of the press that forward advancing movement of the table 165 for unloading the die is controlled by a limit switch SW-6 which is closed as the leading end of die 20 advancing forwardly from between the platens passes onto table v165. Switch SW-6 when closed energizes a solenoid which will bedescribed below in connection with the control circuit and this solenoid when energized opens a one-way normally closed solenoid controlled valve H-SS, Fig. l0, associated with cylinder 216 for reciprocating 'table 165. Valve H-SS is arranged in a line H-86 connected to the forward end of cylinder 216, and this line is attached to a T-tting H-87 in a line H-SS leading to valve Ill-71. Associated with line H-88 and leading from valve H-.71 is a line H-90 which is connected at the other end to a T-litting H-91 in the drain line H-Sl. Accordingly, it will be seen that when valve H-SS is open, line H-86 is adapted to drain the forward end of cylinder 216. By shifting appropriately the manual control handle for valve H-71, lines H-77 and I-I-78 are coupled to furnish fluid under low pressure to the rear end of cylinder 216. Such shifting movement of the operating handle for valve H-71 connects at the same time linesvH-SS and H-90 `so that any iluid at the forward side of the 'piston 21S will be passed through valve H-85 to the drain line. In this connection it will be appreciated that table 165 cannot be advanced forwardly until switch SVV-6 is closed to open valve H-SS. f y s After the die has been unloaded, table 165 in its 'advanced position is retracted to abut in` normal position against the forward extension 164 of the 4lower platen. This is accomplished by actuating valve H-71 manually by the corresponding handle to furnish fluid under low pressure to the forward end of cylinder 216, and atfthe same time line H-78 is connected by valve H71 to line H-90 leading to the drain line enabling fluid in the rear portion of cylinder 216 to llow to the tank.

To enable the piston 215 to be retracted under this condition, a line H-95 containing `a check valve H-96 is connected to the T-tting H-,87 and Vby-passes valve H485 to a T-fltting H-9S in line H-86. When valve l1li-71 is actuated as described above to couple lines H-78 and H-90 for draining theucylinder 216, lines H-77 and H-88 are coupled to furnish fluid under low pressure in line H-73 to the by-pass line H-9S and through the check valve H-96 to the forward end of cylinder 216.

Theextent of rearward movement of piston 21S for table retraction is adjusted so that the rear edge of table 16S will engage the forward edge of the platen extension 164, and in this position table 165 is fully retracted beneath die 20 in its advanced position, whereupon the die cavities 25 may be loaded with a new set of braking lining preforms or the like that are to be cured. After this loading operation has been performed, valve H-70 is actuated to drive piston 130 downwardly to cause the die carriage 100 to retract the die back between the platens 33 and 34. Thus, when valve H-70 is actuated in this manner by the corresponding handle, line H-St) is coupled to line H-73 through valve H70 and at the same time line H-74 is coupled to the drain line H-Sl.

If, during a curing cycle under low pressure, the press is Yto be bumped this is accomplished simply by actuating valve H-S to the press open position whereupon all rams 56, 51 and 80 are retracted relieving vertical pressure as well as the lateral compressive forces against the die 20, enabling the die to expend for expelling the gases formed during the curing reaction. Such bumping operations are controlled in a way which will be described in connection with the control circuit.

If the press is to be operated during the curing cycle by means of high pressure, fluid under high pressure in line H-1 is supplied to cylinders 50A, 51A and 86. In this connection it will be noted that a pair of accumulator tanks H-100 and H-101 supported on a panel are attached to the upper bed of the press, and these accumulators are afforded for storing fluid under Ia predetermined amount of high pressure. The operation of these accumulators is somewhat different one `from the other for a reason to be explained below, but both assure that the necessary amount of high pressure fluid is supplied immediately upon demand from the press. These accumulators are of a known kind and are gas-ballasted, that is, high pressure uid in the accumulators H400 and H401 is stored under pressurel therein by a given quantity of nitrogen gas as compressed by high pressure fluid in line H-I.

To furnish fluid under high pressure to the accumu- Y' lators H400 and H401, a T-litting 103 is afforded in line H-d, and lines liland H-1G6 are connected to the respective arms of this Tfitting so as to conduct fluid under high pressure to the respective accumulators. Needle-type valves H109 and H-110 are arranged in lines 105 and 106 on opposite 'sides or" the fitting H-103 to enable the rate of flow of fluid through these lines to be regulated. Additionally, check valves H-111 and H-112 are afforded in lines H-105 and H-106 respectively to enable lluid therein to pass accordingly in one direction only.

Line H-105 terminates at a T-tting H-llS, and line Isl-106 terminates at a T-tting H-116. From these T- ttings, lines H-119 and H-120 respectively lead to T- fittings H121 and H-122 that are connected to the rcspectii-'e accumulators H-l00 and H-101. Lines H-119 and H-120 terminate at respective pressure switches PS4 and PS2 which are adapted to sense the pressure .of the operating fluid as is contained in the accumulators H100 and H-101 respectively.

Pressure switch PS-l is associated with and adapted to control the opening and closing of a normally closed solenoid controlled valve II-126 in line H-106, and pressure switch PS2 is associated with and adapted to control a normally closed solenoid controlled valve H-127 in line H-105. The way in which these pressure switches control opening and closing of corresponding valves H-126 and H-127 controlled thereby will be described in more detail hereinbelow in connection with the control circuit, but it may here be mentioned that when the pressure switch Psa-2 senses that the pressure inthe ac 413; cumulator H400 is below that desired forloperationthe contact in this switch closes to energize a solenoid E-30 for opening valve H427. Hence, this arrangement assures that there is uid under high pressure in accumulator H400 immediately available at all times.

The arrangement for accumulator H401 is somewhat `diiereut inasmuch as this accumulator is so arranged as tov assure that constant pressure is maintained in cylinder 86 to -hold die 2d contracted with that degree of pres-y sure required by the thermosetting composition` inthe -die cavities 25 .for proper cure.

line H428 as supplied by accumulator H401 drops off,

the contact in pressure switch PS4 will close to energize a solenoid E-22, Fig. ll. This solenoid controls the normally closed valve H426, so that the arrangement of switch PS4 assures that valve H426 is held open until accumulator H401 is satisfied.

Based on the areas of the brake linings to be compressed, switch PS4 has a substantially lower set point 'as compared to the set point for switch PS4.

To enable uid under high pressure in accumulator yH-100 to be supplied to cylinders 50A and 51A, a T- fitting H439 is connected to T-titting H415. A line H-131is led out of the T-iitting H430 to the T-fitting H-23 described above which conducts 'fluid/to lines I-l-ZS `and H-26. Arranged in line H431 below the `T-ftting .H430 Ais a normally closed solenoid controlled valve vH435 which is normally etfective to withhold high pressure fluid from cylinders EtiA and 51A. The solenoid controlled valve H435 is arranged to be controlled by va solenoid E-Zl, Fig. ll, and the arrangement is such that when this solenoid is energized valve H435 is opened and uid under high pressure stored in accumulator H400 is supplied to the tops of cylinders 50A and 51A for driv- Aing the rams 50 and 51 therein downwardly to close the Aupper platen on the lower platen. This of course occurs `only when the press is set for high pressure operation by vmeans of a switch SVV-5, Fig. ll to be described below.

The control circuits for the solenoids E-Zl and E-22 associated withtand adapted to control valves H426 and H435 are in the same circuit as will be described below.

Thus, when the solenoid for valve H435 is energized to open valve H435 fluid under high pressure will be furnished'through line H431 to cylinders 50A and 51A, t and when the'solenoid for valve H426 is energized liuidv underl high pressure is furnished `to cylinder Sti-through line H428 and at the same time to accumulator H401 until the latter is satised. To initiate delivery of uid under high pressure/in this manner, the 4-Way valve H-5 is set in the press close position by means of the correfspondingsolenoid E4'7-2, and under `this circumstance Vlow pressure uid in lines H-60 and H-61'is drained through line H-SS and H46 to thetank as'described above. At the same time, low pressure iluid in line H455 a associated with cylinder S6 is drained to the tank in the same way Aso that the correspondingcylinder rams may be actuated by uid under high pressure in an advancing direction. It may be here pointed out that initially the ram in cylinder 86 is first actuated in an advancing direction by uid under low pressure before fluid under high pressure is furnished thereto through line H428.V Consequently,.the upper platen 33 is closed on the die 20 vprior to ram Sil being edective to compress the die with fluid under high pressure in cylinder 86, and such assures that the uncured thermosetting composition in the die:

cavities does not extrude therefromfwhen the ram 80 eventually contracts the die under high pressure. `This sequence of fluid control in cylinder 86 is attained through a normally opened contact E-24 in pressure switch PS4. Thus, thearrangement, as will be described in more detail below, is such that until contact E424 is closed, iluid under low pressure is resorted to to. initially Yadvance ,the ram in cylinder 86, and when this contact does close a circuit is completed through a normally closed contact E-25 to solenoid E-22 which when energized opens the valve H426 to enable fluid under high pressure to ow through lines H428 and H420.

The press is thus held closed with fluid under high pressure until the end ofthe curing cycle or until it is determined that the press is to be bumped To open the press, it is first necessary to shift valve H-S to the press' open position by energizing solenoid E-31. When valve H-S is thus shifted to the press open position, lines H44 and H45 are coupled through the 4way valve H-S to the drain line H46, and at the same timelines VH-St, H-Sl, H- and H-SS are connected to line H-8r which furnishes fluid under low pressure to these lines `for retracting rams 50, 5l and 80.

Drainage of the aforementioned lines inthis instance is controlled through the pilot check valves H-22 and H-32. Thus, it will be recalled that these valves are lifted by a mechanical advantage arrangement when-fluid Aunder low pressure in lines H-St) and H-51 is directed therethrough. Thus, when pilot check valve H-22 is liftedin this manner, fluid under high pressure in lines H45, H-26 and H431 is enabled to pass back through check valve H-22 to line H44. Similarly, when pilot check valve H-32 is lifted by low pressure fluid in line "inst, uuid under high pressure in lines H-sa, H izo and H428is enabled to pass through this check valve to 'checkvvalve H45, and back to line H45 through 'the' by-pass line H-46 which shunts valve H-30.

As high pressure'fluid is drained from the cylinders in the foregoing manner, fluid under low pressure supplied to lines H-55 and H-S by valve H-S elects retraction of the corresponding rams. Consequently it is now possible to eject and unload thefdies, and this is accomplished by cylinders120 and 216 as described above.

CONTROL CIRCUIT Manual operation-high pressure in turn is connectedto a ground terminal TG by` intermediate wires E Z and E4. Another wire E-'4 is connected at one end to a positive terminal TP of the power source and `at its other end is connected [to aterminal E-t-l of -a normally open manually operated start switch Y lSW-2. The Vopposite terminal E-4-2 of this switch is connected to a wire E+5 leading to a contact of E-7 of pressure switch PS-3 which isv normally open. Wire E-l terminates at the other terminal of switch PS-`3,.and a solenoid E- is Iarranged in series therewith for controlling the normally open Valve H-30. Accordingly, solef-.noid-E- is held deenergizedtso long as'contact E-7 is open to hold valve H40 open. As twill be described-in more detail hereinbelow in connection with automatic operation of the press, switch SW-Z has two sets of contacts, E-land lil-41, as well as two operative positions. For manual control, onlyV one contact E-40 Yis utilized which in the first operative position of the switch SW-Z connects wires E-4 and E-S through the contact terminails E-44 and E-4-2. t

A manually operated switch SW-3 having two sets of contacts is atlorded for-setting the press either forautomaticV or manual control., This switch is normally setjfor automatic control, and to enable the press to be manually of the press.

i noid E-17-2.

Controlled switch SVV-3 is moved to the manual control position. Setting the switch SW-3 in this manner breaks the switch at terminals Eril and E9 thereof and makes at lil-10. The contact of switch SW-S associated with terminals E-9 and E-ltl is connected to wire E-S by Va wire E-ll and the contact associated with terminal E-10 is connected to wire E3 as shown.

A manually operated switch SVV-4 having two Vsets of `contacts is arranged to enable the platens of` the press to be opened and closed as desired during manual control One contact EFIS of this switch is normally closed and is in series with wire E-3. to hold the llfway valve H-5 in the press open position in a manner to be 'described presently. The other contact B-14 is normally open and is arranged when closed to etect delivery of vtluid under low pressure to the tops of cylinders 50A and "5GB for closing the platen andato the outer end of 1 cylinder 86 for compressing the dies. Thus, a wire lit-16 leads from wire E-3 in to the contact E-14,of switch E-4, and another wire E-17 leads out of switch contact E414 to a normally open manually operated switch S W5 the operation of which will be described below. p

As was noted inthe description above of the hydraulic system, the 4-wayvalve H.-4 is controlled by a pair of solenoicls. One of these solenoids, B-17-2, is adapted, when energized, to shift valve H-S to the press close positiomand such action is attained in the present instance by arranging a wire E-l7-3 in series with sole- E-i, and the other end to a wire E-17-4 which in turn isA connectedto wire E- 17. From this it will be seen that when switch SW-4 is actuated to close contact` Yifs-14 on wires E-IG and E-17, solenoid E-17-2 will be energized to shift the 4-way valve H-S as described above to deliver ud under low pressure to cylinders 50A, 51A

i and 85 through lines H-14 and Ha-IS instituting advancing movement of the corresponding rams.

`Pressure switch PS-3 is set to the upper limit of low pressure in line H45. Accordingly, when this switch ,is`

operative, contact E-7 thereof closes to energize solenoid B-6 when the upper limit of low pressure iu line H.-15 lhas been detected, causing the normally open solenoid controlled valve H-3 associated therewith to close which interrupts the flow of fluid to cylinder 86. However,

, inasmuch as the press is to be operated under high pressure, switch P S-3 may be disabled under this circumstance so that valve 'H-Stl remains open.

VSwitch SW-S has one position for enabling the rams in the press cylinders to operate entirely from fluid under low pressure, and another to permit lluid under high pressure to be delivered to cylinders 50A, 51A and 86 at a predetermined time after low pressure uid has been supplied thereto in the initial portion of the cycle. This switch includes two contacts E-18 and -E-19 both of which are normally open under which condition the press -operates entirely with low pressure fluid. However, by closing this switch manually, contact Elf-18, which is in series with wire E-17, is connected -to a wire E-t) having arranged in series therewith a solenoid EZ1 for controlling the normally closed solenoid controlled valve H-135. At the end opposite switch contact 12J-19, `wire B-20 is connected to wire E-l leading tog'round.

Accordingly, by closing switches SW-4 and SW-5 when the press has been set for manual operation, both solenoids E-l-Z and E- 21 may be energized provided `of course that switches SW-l and SW-Z have also Vbeen 4-cylinders'SA and 51A through line H-131,thus causking lthe `upper platen -to lclose on the vdies with high Apres Lsure.

One end of this wire is connected to 'wire` In'order that fluid under high pressure will also be delivered to cylinder 86 tol compress the die 20 laterally with high pressure, the controls for valves Irl-126 and H-ISS are arranged in series, and this is attained by leading wire E-20 through pressure switch PS-l to a solenoid E-ZZ that normally holds valve H-126 closed. The pres sure switch PS-l that controls delivery of fluid under high pressure through valve Irl-126 includes two independently operable contacts responsive to pressure inthe hydraulic line H-12t). One such contact, E414, is normally open with respect to wire E-20 so that no power is delivered to solenoid E-ZZ, and the other, E-ZS, is normally closed in this regard. Contact E44, like contact E-7 of pressure switch PS-3, is sensitive to the upper limit of low pressure furnished to cylinder 86 through lines H-15 and H-36, and contact EZion the other hand is sensitive to the upper limit of high pres sure furnished to cylinder 86 through line H-128'.' Thus, when contact E24 senses that the low pressure initially Yresorted to for advancing the die compression ram 8,0 inwardly against the die is no longer effective, contact `lil-24 closes on wire E-20 and this effects energization of solenoid E-ZZ causing valve H426 to open,inasmuch as contact E-ZS opens only when the upper limit of high pressure has been'passed. In this manner, high pressure is supplied to lines H420 and H-128 until pressure switch lS-l determines that accumulator H-101 has heen satisfied, whereupon contact E-2S opens, deenergizing solenoid VE--ZZ and permitting valve H-1'2 6 to assume its normally closed position. Both contacts Ef-24 and B-ZS of course have a predetermined differential to p repassed in l,the early stage of the cycle, Contact lil-24 will remain closed throughout the cycle to supply power to contact E-ZS and will remain closed at least until the ram Si) is retracted as described above.

As was noted in the description set forth above in connection with the hydraulic system,-a pressure switch -PS-Z is afforded to assure that accumulator H- is vcharged at all times with iluid under high pressure. To enable this to be attained, pressure switch PS-2 is arranged in series with a solenoid for the normally closed solenoid controlled valve H-127, and this circuit includes contact Ef-19 of switch SW-5. Thus, a wire E- 26 is yconnected at one end `to the switch contact E-19 and at the other end is connected to wire E-5. When switch SW-S is clrbsed, contact E-19 contacts the terminal of a wire E -Zland wire `lil-27 is connected in turn to the normally closed contact E-Z of pressure switch PS-Z. A wire E- 29 is extended from contact E-Z to solenoid E-30 for controlling valve Isl-127, and this circuit is completed by connecting wire E-29 to wire E-3. Accordingly,

when switch SW-S is closed, solenoid E-30 will be energifzed through contact E528 of the pressure switch PSf-Z provided that this pressure switch senses that the pressure in the accumulator AI-I 10tl is below the desired valve. Thus, contact E-28 is arranged to break upon a rise ot' pressure in the accumulator H-100 above the predetermined high valve, and again a differential is yaffini-tied in the pressure switch PS-Z to prevent Oscilla- -ti'on of thecontact E-ZS about the set point.

` From 4the foregoing, it will be seen that by setting Vswitch SW-S for high pressure operation and switch SW--Ca` inthe manual 4control position, the upper platen 33 will close on the lower platen 34 and the ram 80 will advance, provided of course the switches SW-1, SW-Z and SW-4 are closed. lTo open the press, it is merely l 7" necessary to open switch SW-4 causing contact E-14 to open across the wires E-16 and E-17. This deenergizes solenoids E-21 and E-22 for valves H135 and H-126.

At the same time, solenoid E-17-2 is deenergized which enables the valve H-S to be reversed to the press open position by a circuit which will now be described.

. When switch SW-4 is opened, contact E-13 of this switch completes a circuit to the solenoid E31 included in the 4-way valve H-S which is adapted when energized to shift this valve to the press open position. Thus, contact E-13 is arranged in series along wire E-3A that is connected at one end Ato the terminal E- of switch SW-3 and which at the other end is connected to wire E2 described above. SolenoidfE-Sl is arranged in series in this circuit. Accordingly when contact E13 makes in wire E-3, solenoid `E31 is energized, and inas much as solenoid E-17-2 is deenergized when contact E-14 breaks, the 4way valve H5 is shifted to the press open position.y In this connection, it will be recalled from the description set forth above of the hydraulic system that such movement of the 4-way valve H-S to the press open position drains the high pressure fluidfrom cylinders 50A, 50B and 86 and feeds iiuid under` low pressure in to these cylinders'to raise the upper platen 33 and retract ram 80 away from -t:he.die.y This is the condition which will prevaily at the, commencement ofthe next curing c-ycle on a new set of preforms.

When the press is opened, die may Abeadvanced outl from between the platens and this is accomplished through valve H-70 associated withr cylinder 120 as described' above in connection with the hydraulic system of Fig. .10.1 At the same time, valve H-71v is shifted to condition cylinder 216 for actuation of table 165 which, however, cannot be attained until switch SW-6 `is closed by the outwardly advancing die set. Thus, vinasmuchasvalve H-85 remains normally closed atfthis time, the low pres,A

sure iiuid in cylinder 86 used to retract piston 215 in the previous cycle cannot escape to the tank so that cylinder 86 is not yet conditioned to move table 165 forwardly.

As the die 20 advance forwardly, switch SW-l is opened in the manner described above, tofprevent the press from' being closed inadvertently. As the die 20 passes the normally open switch SW-6 carried by the .table 165, this switch is closed and power is delivered to` a solenoid that controls valve H-SS. Thus, switch SW-6 yisin series with a wire E-36 that extends between wires E-Z and E-4. Also in series with wire E-36 ,is` a solenoid E-37 for valve H-85, so that when switch SW-6 is closed solenoid E-37 is energized opening valve H-85 which permits line H-86 to drain through lines H-88 and H-90. The table 165 then advances with die 20 as `described above, and the linings are dumped through the unload-V ing cavity 170.

After the dies have been emptied, valve H-71 is actuated to couple line H-77 to line H-88 and line H-78 to line H-90 leading to the drain line. This enables Huidv under low pressure to be delivered to the forward end of cylinder 216 through line H-86 and the by-pass line H-SlS,

and cylinder 216 as well to be drainedat the back through line H-78. Accordingly, fluid under low pressure furnished to the front of cylinder 216 reciprocates table 165 to a fully retracted position where therear edge of table 165 abutts the forward edge of the lower platen etxension 164.

The die cavities may then be loaded with a new set of preforms, and after this has been accomplished valve H-70 is actuated to couple lines H-73 and `H-80 and to couple lines H-74 and H-81. This delivers fluid under low pressure to the top of cylinder120 and fluid at the Ibottom of the cylinder passes to the tank, driving piston 4130 and the rack 131 associated therewith down-V wardly. The racks 105 and 106 on the die carriagel100 are pulled back. When the die carriage 100 `is fully retracted vbeneath the upper platen, switch SW-l is closed and the press is conditioned for a new cycle.

Manual operationlow pressure f When it is `desired to operate the press underlow presf, sure exclusively, say at about 350 ps.i., switchSW-S. is allowed to remain inthe normal orfopen positiongso that nopower is delivered to solenoids E-Zl, ETZZ, and E-'3'0. Under this circumstance then, only solenoids E46, Ee17`2 and E,-,31 are'adapted Vto `be energized. Assuming'that switches SW-l and SW-2 are closed and that,v switch: SVV-3 is set inthe positiondescribedY above for manual` operation, .the press is Closed and the die compress ram in 'cylinder 86 advanced by closing' switch SW -f4,which` interrupts power 'to `solenoid E-31to enablelthe .2l-way valve H-S to be set in the ypress close position by solenoid E-172. At the same time,fsolenoid E172 is energized,

and this causes the u4-way valve H-S to .shiftjto vthe press if the low pressure in line H-15 is sensed by switch .PS-3- as being under the limitset, and in this way pressure switch PS-3 assures that low pressure of a continuous; r nature -s maintained in cylinder 8 6 for compressing'the` die. f

bumped, switch SW-4 'is opened. 'Contact E13 theres,A of closes, and contactE-.14 opens.- This deenergizes;

l solenoid EV-17-2 and, energizes lsolenoid E-31 so that the 4-way valve H-S shifts to the press open position. Cylinders 50A, 511A and 86 are thereupon drained aspiluid under lowI pressure l,in `lines H-50 -andkH-Sl is-eflective` :tolift the vpilot check valves H-22 and H432, andattthe same time iluid under low pressureis supplied tothese: cylinders through Ilines H-,SS and;v H-58 as described; above `to raise the upper platen 33 and retract Vfra-nl 80Y away from the die, thus enabling the latter to be advanced.

vout from between the press platens as described above inv K connection with Manual operation-high pressureti Automatic operation ,Under manual operation` of thepress, 'opening and closing movements are controlled bythe switch "SW-4,1 and inpthose instances where itis necessary to .bump.r4 the press intermittently this must be done by intermittent` Y operation of switch SW-4. By setting the press for auto` matic control, these operations can be Vcarried out auto? maticallythrough a timing means adapted to close the" l press at the commencement of a cycle, bump the press after predetermined time intervals during the cycle'gand open the press at the endl of thecycle. Such timing means in the' present instance includes a Bristol cycle controller and a timerbothyof a known construction. The. cycle controller determines when the press is to be bumpedfa or opened at the endlof the curing cycle, and the timer controls the time interval during which the press remains.,- open during these periods. Thus, for example, the cycle controller maybe setto hold the press closed after the cur-E ing cycle has been commenced fora series of onev minute:

intervals during the `early portion ofthe curing cycleA and to hold the press closed yfor longer time intervals duri,V

ing the later portionsv of the curing cycle.` In between these intervals, the press is fbumped automatically by and the time` that the press remains open duringthese bumping periods, say forr three `or four seconds, -is regu-` lated by the timer.

As notedabove,`the Vswitclif SVV-3l is normally set 'for` automatic' operation, so that under the circumstance of automatic control it is only necessary to actuate switch Atftheend of thecuring time, or if the press :is tolbef SW-Z, assuming of course that the dies are fully retracted between the platens to hold switch SW-l closed. Also, if high pressure is to be utilized during automatic operation for cylinders 50A, 51A and S6, switch SW-S is actuated to enable solenoids E-Zl and E-22 to be energized in an automatic sequence through the timing means in a way which will now be described, first in connection with the Bristol cycle controller, and :then in connection with the timer.

Switch SW-Z has two contacts E-40 and E41, as well as two operative positions as was mentioned above. Thus, for operation of the press manually, it will be recalled that switch SW-Z was pressed in only to the extent that contact E-40 thereof bridges wires E-4 and E-S and is locked in this position under this condition, contact E-41 remaining open and inoperative. For automaticoperation on the other hand, switch SW-Z is momentarily pressed in all the way and released so that contact E-41 momentarily bridges a pair of wires E-42 and E43. Wire E-42 is connected to wire E-S, and wire E-43 is connected to wire E-3. In series with wire E-43 is a relay E-46 which is associated with a holding circuit, and it will be seen that when contact E41 becomes operative in this manner, relay E-46 is energized. The function of the holding circuit associated with relay E-46 will be described in detail below following a description of the Bristol cycle controller.

The Bristol cycle controller includes two motors M-1 and M-Z. Motor M-1 is arranged to intermittently drive a cam shaft (not shown) having arranged therewith a pair of cams (not shown) for closing and opening two normally open cam switches E50 and E-Sl. This same cam shaft carries a third or indexing cam (not shown) for controlling a reversing index switch which includes a normally closed contact E-SS and a normally `open contact E-56.

Motor M-Z is arranged for continuous operation between a zero or initial position and a re-set or terminal position. On the shaft of motor M-Z, there is arranged a timing cam (not shown). This particular cam is in the form of a timing disc having notches arranged at predetermined time intervals on the periphery thereof which determine when the press is to be bumped and also when the press is to be opened at the end of the cycle. A timing switch having a normally closed contact E-58 and a normally open contact E-59 includes a follower (not shown) positioned to engage and ride on the notched timing disc, and the arrangement is such that the contacts E-SS and E-59 in this switch reverse positions each time a notch arrives at the follower for the timing switch and each time this same notch passes the timing switch follower. Thus, each notch in the timing cam reverses the timing switch twice in the time interval required for the notch to traverse the timing switch follower, and it is this time interval during which the press is bumped for a period of time determined by the timer, operation of which will be described separately hereinbelow.

For indicating that the Bristol timer is in its initial or zero position, a zero switch having a normally closed contact E-60 and a normally open contact E-61 is arranged to be actuated by a trip lever (not shown) disposed on the aforesaid cam shaft of motor M-l which holds these contacts of the zero switch in the positions shown in Fig. 11 when the cycle controller is in the zero position. Contact E-60 is arranged in series with a wire E-62 which is connected at one end to wire E-2V. Wire E-62 is connected at E-64 to a wire E-65 leading in from wire E-S and terminates at a terminal 15H66. A lamp E-67 is inserted in this circuit so that when the cycle controller is inoperative this lamp lights. However, when switch SW-Z is closed as described above to cause contact E-41 to bridge wires E-42 and E-43, motors M-l and M-Z are driven in a manner now to be described, and contacts B-60 and E-61 of the zero switch are re- 20 versed causing lamp E-67 to be doused and the press to be closed.

The circuit for driving motor M-l includes a condenser E-68 in series with a wire E-69. Wire E-69 terminates at motor M-I and at its opposite end is connected to wire E-62 described above.

Condenser E-68 is shunted between wire E-69 and terminal E-64 by a wire E-70 having in series therewith a normally closed contact E-71 controlled by a relay E72. Another wire E73 terminates at motor M-l, and this wire is also connected to wire E-62.

The circuit for relay E-72 will be described below, and the arrangement is such that when relay E-72 is energized to open contact E-71 power of a driving nature is delivered to motor M`1 through the condenser E-68. On the other hand, so long as relay E-72 is unenergized,` the normally closed contact E-71 controlled thereby prevents motor M1 from being driven in this manner.

In start position, the switch contacts E-SS and E-SS in the cycle controller are closed, and contacts E-56 and E-59 are open, and the follower for the time switch in the cycle controller is in the zero or start notch located in the timing disc that is adapted to be rotated by motor M-Z. Switch contacts E-SS and E-SS are arranged in series along a wire E-75 which at one end is connected to terminal E-66 and at the other to a wire E-76. Wire E-76 leads from motor M-l to a terminal E-78 on a 'wire E-79. Wire E79 is connected to the terminal where wires E-2 and E-3 join and terminates at motor M-2. Another wire E-81 leads out of motor M-Z to terminal E-66, and terminal E-66 is connected to wire contact E-60 of the zero switch is allowed to open causing the signal lamp E67 to be doused, and at the same time a holding circuit is established enabling motor M-2 to drive continuously until the zero switch is reversed atV t the wiring diagram.

Thus, motors M-1 and M-2 both drive simultaneously once switch contact E-41 is closed on wires E-42 and E43. Motor M-l rotates the cam shaft associated therewith, and the index cam carried thereby rotates from zero position to but not through the first index position whereat contacts E-SS and E-56 are reversed. Inasmuch as this opens wire E-75, relay E-72 is deenergized permitting contact E-71 to close, interrupting dri-ving power delivered to motor M-1 through condenser B-68. However, as motor M-Z rotates the timing disc carried thereby, the initial or start notch rideslpast the follower for the timing switch, and as this occurs, contacts E-58 and E-59 in the timing switch reverse. 4Now, contacts E-56 and E-59 are closed, and these contacts are in series along a wire E-SS that shunts switch contacts E-SS and E-SS. Accordingly, a newcircuit is completed to relay E-72, contact E-71 controlled thereby again opens and motor M-l drive's the index cam through the rst index position.` As the index cam is rotated through the tirst index posg .t v21 tionthe index contacts E-SS and E-S again reverse whereupon lf3-*55 is closed and E-56 opened, and inasmuch as contact E-58 in the timing switch is open at this time both wires E-75 and E-SS are broken and the drive to motor M-1 through the condenser E-68 is again interrupted. Therefore, motor M-.l is not enabled to rotate the cam shaft to the second index position, and this condition Will prevail until motor v M-Z, which drives continuously, presents a new notch onthe timing discrotated thereby to the follower for the timing switch. This new notch represents the first bumpV in the cycle aswill be pointedoutbelow. V- f When relay E-46 is energized as described. above to start motor M-2, a circuit is simultaneously established to solenoidjl-E-17-2` for the 4fway vvalve H-S causing this valveto shift to the n press closel -position as described above. Thisis instituted by anormally open contact E1-90 controlled by relay B-46and a normally closed contact E-91 associated with Vthe timer which will be described below. Thus, contacts r13-90 and E-91 are arranged in series along a wire E-95 which is connected at one endk to wire E-17-4. At the other end, wire E-95 is connected to a wire E-96, and wire E-96 in turn is connected at one end to a wire E-97. Wire E97 is connected to terminal E-8 of switch SW-3, which is normally closed on this terminal for automatic control ofthey press. Therefore, solenoid E-17-2 energizes, and since current is conducted to wire E-17-4 at this time uid under low pressure exclusively, or low pressure first followed by high pressure depending on the settingof switch SW-S, will be delivered to cylinders 50A, 50B andl 86 causing the upper platen to close on the lower platen and ram 80 to compress the die.

v When solenoid E-17-2 is energized through relay E-46 as described above, solenoid E-31 which holds valve H-5 in the press open positionis at the same time deenergized. This is accomplished in the present instance by arranging a normally closed contact E-98 in series along wire E-96 which at the end opposite wire E-97 is connected to wire E-3. Contact E-98 is controlled by relay E46, and accordingly, when the latter energizes to close contact E-90 thereof, contact E-98` is opened breaking the circuit to solenoid E-31.

The time interval between notches on the timing disc driven by motor M-Z determines when the press is to be bumped Thus, as the timing notch next following theV initial or zero notch arrives at the follower for kthe timing switch, the timing switch followerrdrops into this next notch, Vwhereupon contacts E-SS and E-59 reverse, closing contact E-58 and opening contact E-59 as shown. Inasmuch as contact E-SS in the index switch was closed when the index cam passed through the iirstv index position, as described above, contacts E-SS and E-SS are now both closed in wire E-75, as shown, relay E-72 energizes, contact E-71 opens and motor M-1 drives the cam shaft into but not through the second index position. Thus, when the index cam arrives at this second index position, contacts E-SS and E-56 again reverse from the position shown in Fig. 1l, and motor M-l stopped inasmuch as contact E-59 remains open so long as the follower for the timing switch rides in the aforementioned notch next following the zero notch. When the index cam thus passes from the rst to the second index posi'- tion, the press is bumped in a way which will now be described.

As was noted above, two contactsE-S() and E-Sl are associated with a pair of corresponding cams on the ca m shaft driven by motor M-l. These contacts are both normally open and are arranged in series along a wire E-100 which lat one end is connected to terminal E-9 of switch SW,-3. Wire E-ltltl leads to and out of a motor M-3 which is adapted to drive the timer. At its other end, wire Iii-100 is connected to wire E-3, and it will be seenv that this circuit enables motor M-3 to drive when contacts E-S() 'and E-Sl are closed,'iassuming of course man - timer motor M-3 doesi notdrive.

g the curing cycle.

the switch SW-.3 is set inthe position shown for enabling the press to operate automatically.

To initially condition the circuit for. the timer motor M-3, the arrangement is such that the cam controlled contact E-Sl is closed by the corresponding cam on the shaftofrrnotor M-.l when this shaft steps around from the zero position to the first index position as described above. ContactV E-Sl Vremains closed until the end of The cam controlled contact E-50, on the other hand, on ly closes when the press `is to be bumped as determined by the timing disc and the index cam in the cycle controller, andphence until this condition is attained the As was described above, the. press is to beffbumped when the time disc associated with motor M-Z arrives at the notch next subsequent tofzero notch. Thus, as the shaft of motor M-l rotates from the -first to the second index position reversing the index switch and disabling motor M-l` from driving through the second index position, contact E-S is momentarily closed and then reopened by the correspending cam on the shaft of motor M-1.k Since contact E-51 was previously closed lat the commencement of the cycle as described above, power is delivered to motor. M-3 through wire E-100 and the timer begins its cycle. Shunting contact E-51 and motor M-3 is a wire E-1`05 having in series therewith'a relay coil E-106 for the clutch `of motor M-3, and :associated with this relay coil are three contacts adapted to be Vreversed when this coil is energized.

Thus, when the timer relay E-ltl -is energized, the normally closed contact E-91 previously noted opens,vv deenergizing solenoid E-17-2 for valve H-S. A second contact .l-109, normally open, iscontrolled by the timer relay E406, and this contact is arranged in series with a wire E400 which shunts wire E-96 to wire Ef-S. Ac-` cordingly, when relay E-106 energizes to open contact E-91 thereof contact E-109 closes at the same time to establish a circuit to solenoid E-31 which shifts vaflve H-'S to the press open position to enable the press to be bumped n A second normally open contact E-112 controlled by the timer relay E-106 is afforded for establishing a holding circuit to motor M-f3, inasmuch asl the time during which the press is to remain open during the bumping period must be independent of the closing of contact E-50 which is cam controlled by motor M-l. Thus, contact E-112 is larranged in series with wire E-97 as shown, and wire E-97 is connected to wire E-105 by a bridge i12-114.'y From this it will beseen that when relay E-106 is energized, contact E412 closes to establish a holding circuit through switch SW-3 and contact E-Sl to motor M-3. In this connection, it will be recalled that contact E-Sl is held closed until the end of the curing cycle which conditions motor M-3 for driving each time contact E-SG is closed and opened between the several index positions.

The press is bumped by the timer in the above described manner for a few seconds only, and this period during which the press is held open is determined by the predetermined cycle for which the timer is set. Thus, there is a trip lever of the usual'kind arranged on the shaft of motor M-3, and as motor MaS completes a cycle of operation, depending upon the predetermined time for which this motor is set, this trip lever reverts contact E412 to the normally open position shown interrupting the holding circuit ,for relay E-106 and stopping motor Ivi-3. Contact E-91 closes and contact E-109 opens.` This deenergizes solenoid E-31 and enables solenoid E-172 to energize, so that the closed.

During the bumping cycle, motor M-Z continues to drive of ycourse and eventually the timing switch follower riding on the timing disc rides out of the aforesaid notch next following the initial or zero notch in the timingy disc. When this occurs, the timing switch again reverses,- itself to close contact lil-59 and open contact B-v58. Inf

press is automaticallyf asmuch as the index switch at this time is reversed from the position shown in the wiring diagram, contacts E-56 and E-59 are now both closed in wire E-SS, relay E-72 is energized and motor M-1 drives the 4cam, shaft associated therewith to rotate the index cam through the second index position closing E-SS and opening E-56. Inasmuch as the timing switch contact at this time has been reversed from the position shown circuit to relay E-72 is interrupted, reverting contact E-71 to the normally closed position. This stops motor M-1 from driving to the third index position.

The foregoing sequence of operations ent-ailing the closing and re-opening of the cam controlled contact E-50 each time the shaft of motor M-1 is rotated between index positions by the timing switch is repeated for successive bumps of the press until the timing disc rotated -by motor M-2 reaches its re-set position. At the re-set position, a trip lever on the shaft of motor M-'1 closes a normally open re-set switch E-120, This switch is in series with a wire E-121 connected at one end to wire E-SS between contacts E-56 and E-59 of the index and timing switches respectively. Wire E-121 is connected at the opposite end to wire E-76, and arranged in series with the re-set switch is a re-set solenoid E-122 for motor MZ.

Thus, when motor M-2 rotates the last timing notch past the timing switch follower, the timing switch reverses from the position shown in Fig. ll so that contact E-59 thereof is closed. At this time of course the index cam operated by motor M-l is stationarily set at the last index position ready to pass therethrough and when thus positioned contacts E-SS and E-56 of the index switch are reversed from that shown in Fig. l1 so that contact E-S is closed. Since contacts E-SG and E-59 are now both closed in wire E-SS, relay E-72 is energized, and power is delivered to motor M-1 advancing the index cam through the last index position. Contact E55 closes, contact E-56 opens, and the re-set lever controlled by motor M-l advances immediately to the reset switch E420. As switch E-12tl is closed in thisl manner, power is delivered to the re-set solenoid E122 through the closed contact E-59, and motor M-Z rotates the timing disc rapidly around to the zero notch. Contact E-61 of the zero switch opens and motor M-Z is stopped with the timing switch follower disposed again in the zero notch of the timing disc to set the timing switch in the normal position shown in Fig. l1. As motor M-Z re-sets into the zero notch in this manner contact E-59 opens, E5Sveloses, and the index and timing switches are again in the normal positions shown which conditions motor M-1 for a new start -at the commencement of the next operation.

The arrangement for the contacts E-S and E-51 controlled by corresponding cams associated with motor M-l is such that as the cycle controller undergoes the automatic re-set operation described, contact E-50 is momentarily closed and re-opened while contact E-Sl is opened and held open. Opening of contacts E-SO and E-51 in this way disables the timer motor M-3, but when Contact E-50 is momentarily closed the timer relay E-106 is energized and contact E-112 thereof holds the circuit in so long as the cycle controller remains in the zero position.

When relay E-106 is energized at the end o-f the curing cycle in this manner, contact E-91 is opened, deenergizing solenoid E-17-2, and contact E-109 is closed to energize solenoid E-31. Consequently, valve H-S is shifted by solenoid E-31 to the press open position to enable die to be unloaded from the opened press.

Finally it may be pointed out that a signal E-130 is arranged to sound when the cycle controller is in zero position. Thus, this signal is arranged in series with the re-set circuit by a wire E-131 which is connected to wire E-121 and which leads through the signal E-130 to wire E-Z. i

At the commencement of the next curing cycle on a new set of thermosetting prefer-ms, the cam for contact E-Sl on the shaft of motor M-1 closes this contact as motor M-1 advances out of zero position, and motor M3 is driven through the holding circuit afforded by relay E-106 and contact E-112 thereof to time out, causing the trip lever operated thereby to open contact E-112. Motor M-3 then stops and does not drive again until energized at the first bumping period in this next curing cycle. When this occurs, the trip lever for holding contact E412 of relay E-106 open is relieved therefrom whereupon this relay is again conditioned to establish a holding circuit through contact E-112 and E-51 as described above.

Thus, While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification, and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, Ibut desire to avail ourselves of such changes and altenations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

We claim:

`l. In a press adapted to cure thermosetting compositions under pressure, a pair of platens arranged to have a die containing the composition to be subjected to pressure disposed therebetween, means to close one platen on the other to clamp the die, a ram arranged to apply pressure against the sides of the die in a direction normal to the closing direction of the one platen on the other, means to advance and retract said ram, means operative yafter said ram has been retracted to eject the die from between the platens, a table mounted on the press and disposed forward of one of the platens and substantially in the plane thereof to receive an end of the die being ejected, said table being mounted and supported in the press for advancing movement away from said one platen and means to advance the table parallel with the die to disclose an unloading cavity forward of said one platen and through which the cured composition in the die is adapted to drop.

2. In a press adapted to cure thermosetting compositions under pressure, a pair of platens 4arranged to have a die containing the composition to be subjected to pressure disposed therebetween, means to close one platen on the other to clamp the die, a ram arranged to apply pressure against the sides of the die in a direction normal to the closing direction of the one platen on the other, means to advance and retract said ram, means operative after said ram has been retracted to eject the die from between the platens, a table mounted on the press and disposed forward of one of the platens and substantially in the plane thereof to receive an end of the die being ejected, said table being mounted and supported in the press for advancing movement away from said one platen means operative to 1advance the table parallel with the die being ejected to disclose an unloading cavity forward of said one platen and through which the cured composition in the die is adapted to drop, and means to sense the passage of the end of the die on to the table and to thereupon actuate the means `for advancing said table.

3. In a press adapted to cure thermosetting compositions under pressure, an expandable and contractable die affording a plurality of individual die cavities each adapted to be loaded with thermosetting compositions to be cured, a pair of platens arranged to have said die disposed therebetween, means to close one platen on the other to clamp s-aid die therebetween, a ram arranged to apply die contracting pressure against the sides of the die in a direction normal to the closing direction of the one platen on the other, means to advance and retract said ram, means operative after said ram has been retracted to eject the expanded die from between the platens, a table mounted on the press and disposed forward of one of the platens and substantially in the 

